I would like to express my warm gratitude to a number of people, in and outside the lab, who supported me during the six years it took to finish this thesis.
First of all, Eva Degerman, my supervisor and mentor. I cannot emphasize strongly enough the vital role you have played in making my PhD studies such a stimulating and enjoyable time of my life. Your endless enthusiasm and optimistic attitude have been a tremendous support those days when ”nothing worked”, and your curiosity (including prying among my papers in search for the latest results) has made me feel I never disturb you. Moreover, your achievements and devotion to science have been, and will also in the future be a constant source of inspiration. Thank you also for sharing your vast knowledge in, among other things, signal transduction, and for creating such a dynamic and positive atmosphere to work in.
Lena Stenson Holst, my present co-supervisor, for being a patient and pedagogic tutor when I took my first stumbling steps in science, as an inexperienced summer student and later diploma worker, and for luring me back to the group when I was about to wander astray and fall victim to the industry. Thank you also for guiding me through the world of nucleic acids;
from help with complicated cloning strategies, to skilful appreciation of the DNA-amounts in my agarose gels.
Jonny Wijkander, my co-supervisor before your move to Karlstad. Thanks for passing on an exciting project, and teaching me the tricks on how to achieve the perfect PKB blot or ”lapp-assay”.
Per Belfrage, our professor and former dean, for generously accepting me as high school "prao"-student and introducing me to Eva and Lena. Thanks also for wonderful lamb barbeques at Haväng, and for keeping us up to date with the latest currents in research politics- and financing.
All the members of the research group; Tova Landström, my first and only room mate, for being something of an elder sister in science early in my PhD studies. Moreover, thanks for your expert introduction into the art of socializing with Mr Sprague and Mr Dawley, and to prepare fat cells of prime quality. Svante Resjö, my Mac ally, for a very nice phophatase collaboration and for teaching me all I know about computers (which is almost enough for me to do without you). Lina Åkesson, for being an ideal student when I made my debut as a supervisor - and for leaving Island and return to us for your
PhD studies! Alina Oknianska, for exciting cow fat performances at the chemical centre, and for the never ending supply of Polish chocolate that you brought and put in our eye sink. Emilia Zmuda, for your good spirits and delicious Polish cakes. Gudrun Edgren, for expert advice on everything regarding PBL and teaching. Eva Ohlson, for great company in "our" lab, for always agreeing with me on the choice of radio channel, and for reminding me of the dishes and taking care of them when I forgot anyway (which was way too often I'm afraid). And of course, thanks for your excellent technical assistance, especially regarding all the biological assays on the DMAP project.
Ann-Ki Påhlbrink, for your energy, good laughs, Osby anecdotes and for guidance in gel casting and lots more, in the beginning of my PhD studies.
Fredrik Svennelid, the former spinach lover, who recently teamed up with the ß-cell folks, for nice coffee break discussions and colourful description of the conferment ceremony. Rebecka Nilsson, my “favourite summer student”.
Thanks for your contribution to the DMAP paper.
Linda Härndahl, PhD student colleague, for becoming the perfect travel- and conference companion, in all regards except skiing, sadly to say… But more importantly, for becoming one of my very best friends. Thanks for all the fun moments and long chats in my office, but also for the times when I needed cheering up, and you were there. I sincerely hope you’ll join me on the rainy island west of the North Sea!
A collective thanks to all past and present members of Cecilia Holm’s group, for generously sharing space, apparatus, knowledge, and not to mention great dissertation parties, Friday cakes and beers at Botulf’s. Ola, thanks for a great trip to Colorado, and for talking me into joining you for another ski adventure!
All the people at the section for molecular signalling and the present floor C11, (too many to mention) for helping in creating the best of working environments, including fabulous lunch- and coffee discussions (mostly scientific of course). Karin Berger; although you, to my annoyance, beat me by one week, thanks for great company, support and competition on the finish!
Elisabeth Ringsjö and Ingegerd Persson, for competent administrative support, such as keeping track of my travel grants.
Dario Alessi, for letting me visit your lab and for sharing your knowledge in PDK1. And especially, thanks for taking me back later this year!
All the people at the MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit in Dundee, who helped making my stay so enjoyable; thanks for waking my slumbering
beer-passion. I trust you’ll help me in achieving my next goal, that is to learn to enjoy whisky. See you all by the end of the summer!
Peter Arner, Mikael Rydén and Lars Rönnstrand for fruitful collaborations.
Vincent Manganiello, our collaborator at the NIH, for valuable feedback on manuscripts.
All my old and new friends outside the lab. Thank you for standing by, even though I was busy working and riding, and spent way to little time with you!
Fredrik, for love and friendship during many years together.
Tinka, my best friend since 15 years, who recently also became my boxing partner. What would I do without you!? Thanks for your endless support throughout the years, and for keeping me going during the past six months.
Will miss you in Scotland!
Bjarne, for support and badly needed distraction during the preparation of this thesis.
My three black and white, furry friends. Thanks for being good listeners and for always agreeing.
My four sisters, Lovisa, Ebba, Sofia and Anna. Thanks for being true friends, and for helping out with everything from car problems, flying changes and prescriptions, to life crises.
My parents, Göran and Helena. Needless to say, you definitely had a finger in it. Thank you for complementing each other, and supporting me in your own special ways.
The Odd Fellow Society, for the generous personal grant that I was awarded in 2001. This grant has provided invaluable economic support to attend research conferences, as well as to buy the two computers with the help of which I could work with this thesis in my office, at home, or in remote and quiet places.
This work was supported by Swedish Medical Research Council Project 3362 for Eva Degerman; the Swedish Society of Medicine; the Swedish Diabetes Association; Påhlssons Foundation, Malmö, Sweden; the Royal Physiographic Society, Lund, Sweden, Crafoord Foundation, Lund, Sweden, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, USA and Novo Nordisk, Copenhagen, Denmark.